Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-18
Anarchists Hanged !!
Spies. Parsons, Fischer and
ElgG pay the Penalty.
SCRwAB AND FIELDEN COMMITTED TO
PRISON FOR LIFE.
LINGGS TERRIBLE SUICIDE.
He Skaters His Head win
Dynamite.
SAD PARTING SCENES.
Nina Van Zandt and Her
SAD PARTING SCENES.
Nina Van Zandt and Her
Lover.

Lover.
CHICAGO, Nov. 10.-The sheriff
was informed about halfpast seven
this evening that the death sen.
tences of Michael Schwab and Sam
uel Fielden had been commuted to
life-imprsonment, and that the
Governor had declined TO interfere
IN the execution of August Spies,
A. r. Parsons, Adolph Fischer and
Louis Engel. When the news was
received a. the Jail, there was an
extraordinary scene. The news
was sent to the relatives of all the
condemned men, and in a short
time they began 10 arrive at the
Jail. The first of the women to
come was Mrs. Schwab. Soon af-
ter Schwab was brought from his
cell to the main Office. His wife
quickly advanced to him, and,
throwing her arms about his neck,
burst into tears. Schwab returned
the embrace in a calm manner, and
soon the two were chatting quietly
together.
After this, Spies and Fischer were
brought from their cells and taken
to the Jail library. Engel was
brought to the private Office OF MIR.
FoIz. This was done for the pur-
pose of allowing the relatives to
take their last interviews. The first
one to arrive after Mrs. Schwab was
Miss Engel, the daughter of the
condemned Anarchist. When the
two met there was an outburst of
grief which it is impossible to de-
scribe. Father and daughter clung
to each other and sobbed cOnvul-
sively. Their conversation was in
German, and listened to only by
Deputy Oleson. Then came Mrs.
Spies, the mother of August. She
had been waiting outside for an
hour and a half. Her sobs could
be heard through the corridors of
the building. She did not stay
long IN the library with her son,
and on her exit from the Jail Mrs.
Fischer was admitted. She went
into the library, and her lamenta.
tions we're heard above the tramp
of the deputies who swarmed about
the place. But the crowning scene
of all was the visit of Nina Van
ZaDdt, the proxy wife of5pies. She
was conducted to the library by
Deputy Oleson. AS she walked
through the main Office she betray-
cd no emotion. The moment she
saw August, however, she complete.
ly changed her demeanor. There
was look, then a gasp, and in a
trice the lovers were in each others
arms. A bevy of curious reporters
and officers crowded up to the door
of the library, but it was quickly
shut by the deputy. The interview
between the prisoner and bis faith
ful devotee lasted nearly half an
hour. Then the lovers parted, and
the excitement Of the entrance Ol
Nina had passed.
Mrs. Lucy Parsons created
scene in the Criminal Court build
ing about ten o'clock. Approach
ing the door which leads to the jail
yard, she demanded permission tc
proceed. This was denied.
"But l must 60 in to see my hus
band" exclaimed Mrs. Parsons.
"You cannot,r was the firm reply
Then the dusky wife Of the An
archist threw up her hands and fel
to the floor IN dead faint. 1t tool
over twenty minutes to bring her Il
consciousness, but when this wal
done she vas escorted from th'
building. Parsons was not inform
ed of this episode.
Just at the time this incident tool
place, ex-Sheriff Hanchett emerget
from tho jail cell-room and went in
to Sheriff Matson's private Office
In a couple of minutes he came out
bearing in his arms the ropes will
which the Reds are to be hung
Shortly after this Deputy Sheriff
Curran, who had been guarding
Fischer, came into the jail ofiic'
from the cell.room. He reportet
that all the men were awake ant
talking on general subjects to thei
guards.
The erection of the scaffold begsl
at 1915 o'clock, The gallows va
put up in the northeast corridor o
the jail, where for many years al
Cook county hangings have takel
place. The scaffold is the sam
used in the hanging Of the thre
Italian murderers, but it has bee